Rob Lowe's Family Celebrates Son's Wedding Amidst Recent Tragedy
The actor's son, Matthew, married Emily Markus in Santa Barbara, just weeks after the death of his 13-year-old niece, Fiona.
Rob Lowe's family gathered in Santa Barbara over the weekend to celebrate the wedding of his son, Matthew, to Emily Markus. The joyous occasion took place nearly two weeks after the tragic death of Lowe's 13-year-old niece, Fiona, the daughter of his brother Chad Lowe, who died by suicide on September 29.
The outdoor ceremony was officiated by actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Lowe and his wife, Sheryl Berkoff, were seated in the front row, alongside their elder son, John, 30. Other celebrity guests in attendance included Katy Perry, Adam Levine, Cameron Diaz, Zoe Saldana, Chris Pratt, and Maria Shriver.
Fiona was the middle daughter of Chad Lowe and his wife, casting director Kim Painter. The couple also have two other daughters, Mabel, 17, and Nixie, 10. Emergency services responded to the family home on September 29, and Fiona was pronounced dead at an area hospital shortly after midnight.
In a statement to People, Rob and Sheryl Lowe remembered Fiona as "a loving young girl who was smart, creative, and loved to dance." They added, "Her passing is devastating for our entire family and we ask for prayers and privacy at this time." They also directed individuals struggling with mental health to the 988 Suicide + Crisis Lifeline.
Chad Lowe had recently taken a small step back into the public eye. Earlier in the week, he reposted a video on Instagram featuring Irish writer Gerry Hussey discussing the state of the soul after death. This followed a tribute from his nephew, John Owen Lowe, who shared a poem by Emily Dickinson titled 'Hope Is the Thing With Feathers' days after Fiona's death. The poem speaks of hope as a resilient force that resides within the soul.
Matthew, 33, wore a classic black suit for his wedding, while his bride, Emily Markus, wore a strapless white gown with a train and a sheer veil. The couple became engaged in 2025 after several years of dating. It remains unclear if Chad Lowe and his immediate family were present at the ceremony.